Aspects of serial communication in a network of medical devices

Patient treatment in any hospital may require perfusion devices. Modern technology in this area is related to electronic-controlled devices that can be remotely accessed from a central place (guarding room). Because electromagnetic radiation is a big issue in medical world, remote access solutions must be wire-based, and RS485 serial communication is an effective solution. As part of a research project of Romanian Ministry of Education and Research regarding modern infusion pumps, deep investigations in serial communication aspects are performed. Different software communication protocols are analyzed and the optimal one is chosen according to different criteria - hardware and software implementation effort, costs and resistance to perturbations.